Commitment And Crisis

Commitment and Crisis

Matthew 1:18, NLT

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Setting the Scene

After announcing the lineage of Jesus, Matthew introduces the two people who will be entrusted with God in the womb. Matthew wrote these words years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, so the amazing climax of Jesus’ life was already etched in the minds of his first readers. Matthew takes them (and us) back to the beginning to see how all the events unfolded that led to the overturning of the world.

Matthew doesn’t mention a location, but we learn about Nazareth from Luke, though Matthew later (2:19-23) explains how Jesus came to be brought up in that northern town and why he was called a Nazarene. Matthew 1:18–2:23 includes aspects of Jesus’ human origin that are not told anywhere else. Matthew gives us Joseph’s perspective. As the story opens, an engagement (betrothal) has taken place, the first of several formal steps that will lead to the marriage of Joseph and Mary.

The reality of those times and that culture requires us to understand the “arranged” aspects of their relationship. Joseph would have met with Mary’s father, not just to “ask for her hand in marriage” but to negotiate a bride-price (the financial commitment a groom made to his bride’s family, demonstrating the seriousness of his intentions). Again the nearby record of genealogy reminds us that all the parties in these dealings would have been aware of the royal aspects of their mutual heritage. Such things were still important in a nation that continued to track an individual’s connection with the original twelve tribes of Israel. Both the prospective groom and bride traced their lineage to common points from Judah up through King David.

Mary might or might not have been allowed veto power in the arrangement, though the tone of the story leads us to believe she was in full agreement with her upcoming marriage to the local carpenter.

To the delightful news of the engagement of Mary and Joseph, Matthew adds three intriguing phrases: “before the marriage,” “still a virgin,” and “became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Luke has told us about the angel’s visit with Mary. We can hardly imagine the conversation that must have followed if she tried to explain to her betrothed that she was with child and how the pregnancy had come about. The new circumstance could have created a strain on their relationship.

The cause may have been unique, but the results of change were the same we all experience—crisis. God’s plan will involve crises in your life just as certainly as his arrival on earth created a series of crises for Mary and Joseph. Every crisis comes with the potential for God to do something great. How does that fact affect the way you respond to the crises in your life?

Getting Personal

What are some aspects of your life that seem to be going “according to plan” right now?

When did you last have to adapt to a significant unexpected change of plans?

God does exercise his sovereignty in our lives by overruling our plans. Proverbs reminds us repeatedly that we are free to make any plans we like, but to remember that God directs our steps. He is not limited to our plans. The challenge for us, then, is to develop God-oriented plans. Our responses to God-directed detours and obstacles tell us a lot about our progress in spiritual maturity.

Talking to God

Pray over your plans for today, this week, and on into the months ahead. Ask God to help you trust him when your plans seem superseded by his, especially when life doesn’t seem to make sense.